What kind of week has it been for First Dude’s runners? On Saturday, Baby Ice won at Monmouth Park by 6 3/4 lengths. On Sunday, Pretty Dude won by 7, also at Monmouth.
Not to be outdone, Icy Dude scored one of the most eye-opening victories of the season in the fifth race at Parx yesterday. With Jeremy Laprida riding in a starter optional claimer at a flat mile, the 4-year-old gelding bred by Donald Dizney was off last in a field of six, and was a good 10 lengths behind as pace-setter Diesel passed the quarter in :23.49.
Laprida let Icy Dude loose as they headed down the backstretch, and he first slipped through on the inside to pass the fifth horse, then split horses to overtake three more, leaving only Diesel in his sights. It took just a few strides to put the leader away, and Icy Dude galloped to the wire in front by 14 1/4 lengths.
Icy Dude carried high-weight of 123 pounds, and earned $15,000 for his daylight score, boosting his total to $73,415 on a record of 3-6-1 in 16 starts. He became winner No. 49 for First Dude in 2021.